Planning and implementing an efficient Information Technology infrastructure is critical for optimal growth, increased productivity, and better performance. In this digital age, you cannot afford to consider the IT infrastructure just as a support system. You need to integrate it into your organizational structure to stay competitive and optimize the workflow. This step-by-step will help you set up an IT infrastructure that is efficient, cost-effective, and fits your bill.
Start with your business goals
Before focussing on the technology, consider your business goals. What do you want to achieve, and what will be the role of your IT infrastructure in the process of achieving the goal? This step is critical to strategically plan your IT needs. Once you know what you are trying to achieve, it will be easier for you to figure out what IT solutions you need to support those goals.
Determine the requirements
The next step is to determine what are the things you need to implement an efficient IT infrastructure. Consider both hardware and software requirements. The network is also an important part of the IT infrastructure. You may have two types of requirements, primary and secondary. Primary requirements are those infrastructural supports that are necessary to run your business smoothly and cannot be compromised. There may be other requirements that are good to have but can wait.
Assess current inventory and analyze the gaps
If you are already in business, you must have some kind of hardware, software, and apps in place. Assess how they are performing. Are they adequate to meet the basic requirements, or do they need improvement? At this stage, you may want to gather insights from your employees involved in your daily business operations. They can point out some gaps that you may have missed.
Estimate the budget and do the cost analysis
Once you figure out your requirements and gaps in the existing system, move on to estimate the budget. How much do you need to pay for the infrastructure you aspire to build? There are two parts, one is an immediate investment, and the other is a recurring cost. Consider both and determine whether it is cost-effective for your business. How much value will it add to your business? What are the benefits? Is it worth the money? Can you afford it? Ask these questions and tweak your plan accordingly.
Work with an experienced service provider
Choosing the right service-providing partner is one of the most crucial parts of the entire process. Once you know your requirements and budget, the next step is to work with an experienced service provider who can support you to implement the plan. Do your research and choose a service provider that has the required infrastructure, expertise, and experience.
You may choose multiple service providers to get different services like network connection, cloud infrastructure, and data center facility. However, this may complicate the process and require a lot of coordination on your part. Alternatively, you may work with a single service provider who offers extensive support covering all the needs.
Talk to different service-providing companies, get quotes, and compare the benefits. An experienced service provider will also guide you on how to adjust your plan according to your need your budget.
Service providers like AiNET approach the client’s IT ecosystem holistically. As they offer the full suite of IT services including, data center, cloud, and network, they can craft the solution exactly how you want it.